Hong Kong

Still current at: 08 March 2010
Updated: 16 February 2010

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Summary and the Health section (removal of references to Swine Flu and Avian Influenza). The overall level of the advice has not changed; there are currently no travel restrictions in place in Hong Kong.

Travel Summary

Although Hong Kong has separate immigration controls from Mainland China and separate legal and law enforcement systems, it could still be vulnerable to both terrorism directed at China, and the global threat from terrorism. Any attacks could be indiscriminate including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

In the first six months of 2009, 268,703 British tourists visited Hong Kong (Source: The Hong Kong Tourism Board). Most visits are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Hong Kong in 2008 was for replacing lost and stolen passports and petty crimes. You should take sensible precautions against pickpocketing and other street crime.

In both 2006 and 2007 the Hong Kong press reported instances of spiked drinks. See the Crime Section of this Travel Advice.

The typhoon season in Hong Kong normally runs from April to October. See the Natural Disasters section of this Travel Advice.

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice.

Further reading...

General

Insurance

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling, as the cost of medical care in Hong Kong is high. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See Travel Insurance for more details. If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is When Things Go Wrong.

Employment

You must obtain an appropriate visa before arriving in Hong Kong if it is your intention to work there. For more information, you can contact the nearest Chinese mission with visa issuing facilities or the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Their address is Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong (tel: 2824 4055, fax: 2598 8388).

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Shopping

The vast majority of retail outlets are fair and honest. However, you should be aware that a number of incidents have occurred in the Nathan Road/Tsim Tsa Tsui area where shoppers have been overcharged for older models of goods. You should shop around for prices before purchase as claims for compensation after goods have been paid will have to be referred to the consumer council website. You should be aware that this process may take some time.